Rory McIlroy finishes 2012 as world's number one

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy has ended 2012 as world number one after topping the European and United States money lists.

The US PGA winner finished the year in the top four along with Luke Donald and Justin Rose, with Tiger Woods rising to third from 23rd at the start of 2012.

There were 19 Europeans in the leading 50 with four Americans in the top 10.

The big faller was Lee Westwood who slipped to seventh from second in the last 12 months.

Westwood's only win of the year came in the Scandinavian Masters.

Mcllroy, 23, was voted PGA Tour Player of the Year by fellow players on the US Tour.

He was the youngest player to win the award since Tiger Woods in 1998, topped the money lists in Europe and the US and was also part of the victorious European Ryder Cup team.

McIlroy won four events in the States during 2012 as well as the World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Woods moved up the rankings without winning a major, but his three tournament victories pushed him past Jack Nicklaus on the all-time PGA Tour wins list.

The other Americans in the top 10 are Bubba Watson (eighth), Jason Dufner (ninth) and Brandt Snedeker (10th)

Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia end the year 14th and 16th in the world respectively after wins in South Africa and Malaysia respectively.

Final 2012 World Golf Rankings

1 (3) Rory McIlroy 13.22pts

2 (1) Luke Donald 8.62

3 (23) Tiger Woods 8.53

4 (18) Justin Rose 6.42

5 (5) Adam Scott 6.21

6 (40) Louis Oosthuizen 6.14

7 (2) Lee Westwood 6.03

8 (21) Bubba Watson 5.30

9 (33) Jason Dufner 5.29

10 (38) Brandt Snedeker 5.23

(2011 positions in brackets)